What this means
Polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases are the most common form of inheritable neurodegeneration. Neuronal protein aggregates strongly correlate with polyQ symptoms; pathways that protect against protein aggregation may help mitigate the symptoms of poly-Q or delay disease onset.
A plain-English summary is on its way. Until then, this is the start of the authors' own summary.
- Who it was tested in
- Not stated
- Kind of research
- A study
The science
- Original title
- Effects of Glucose and Vitamin D 3 on Heat Stress Resistance in a Caenorhabditis elegans Model of Polyglutamine Aggregation Disease.
- Authors
- Blackwell L, Sharp J, Hernandez G et al.
- Journal
- microPublication biology
- Published
- Oct 26, 2026
- Study type
- Study
- PMID
- 42928783 ↗
Abstract
Polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases are the most common form of inheritable neurodegeneration. Neuronal protein aggregates strongly correlate with polyQ symptoms; pathways that protect against protein aggregation may help mitigate the symptoms of poly-Q or delay disease onset. We used a C. elegans polyQ model, exposed to a heat stressor, to test potential protective mechanisms: glucose and vitamin D₃ (VD₃) supplementation. Glucose enrichment further shortened post-heat stress lifespan, while VD₃ in moderate doses trended toward restoring polyQ post-stress lifespan back to wild-type levels. These results show effects of early-life interventions that could indicate aspects of polyQ pathogenesis mechanisms and treatment options.
Blackwell L, Sharp J, Hernandez G et al. Effects of Glucose and Vitamin D 3 on Heat Stress Resistance in a Caenorhabditis elegans Model of Polyglutamine Aggregation Disease. microPublication biology. 2026. doi:10.17912/micropub.biology.002376. PMID: 42928783. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42928783/
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